Waupaca is a city in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, home to about 6,283 people across 7.9 square miles. Its ZIP code is 54981.
Homes sold for a median of $193 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Mostly Waupaca; also Farmington Town (Waupaca County) and Dayton Town (Waupaca County)
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Waupaca. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Waupaca’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)114 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Appleton International Airport (ATW)30 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Madison, WI88 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL188 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Waupaca; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Waupaca had 6,282 residents in the 2020 census, up 11% since 2000.
It’s the 162nd largest of 1,889 towns in Wisconsin by population.
Waupaca County grew from 31,615 residents in 1900 to 51,812 in 2020.
Waupaca County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 82°F in summer, and winter lows average 8°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 49 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Waupaca, WI weather station (3 miles away).
15,170 jobs at 1,199 businesses in Waupaca County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
196 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Waupaca.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 29 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 29 |
| Dentists | 9 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 42 |
| Mental health providers | 34 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 38 |
| Optometrists | 4 |
| Chiropractors | 11 |
| Pharmacies | 8 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (10 nearby)
Grocery stores (3 nearby)
Pharmacies (1 nearby)
Libraries (2 nearby)
Museums (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 2 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Established in 1849.
Notable people born here
Source: Wikidata (wikidata.org), the free knowledge base; people are listed by place of birth.
Public schools here are run by Waupaca School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chain Exploration CenterWaupaca | Pre-K–8 | 139 | Charter | 2.9 mi |
| Waupaca Community 4-Year Old KindergartenWaupaca | Pre-K | 133 | Public | 2.9 mi |
| Waupaca Learning Center ElementaryWaupaca | Pre-K–4 | 602 | Public | 2.3 mi |
| Waupaca MiddleWaupaca | 5–8 | 546 | Public | 2.0 mi |
| Waupaca HighWaupaca | 9–12 | 623 | Public | 0.8 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waupaca Christian AcademyWaupaca | Pre-K–12 | 176 | Christian (no specific denomination) | 2.2 mi |
| Tomorrow's Children, IncWaupaca | 1–7 | 28 | Nonsectarian | 2.8 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Farmington Town (Waupaca County), Dayton Town (Waupaca County), Lind and Waupaca Town.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.